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Project Document
WA is responsible for the execution of watershed development works as per the sanction
from the State Government under the guidance of Watershed Development Team (WDT)
appointed by the Project Implementation Agency (PIA), an approved agency, usually an
NGO, by the government. There are no provisions for revenue to Watershed Association
other than the sanction issued by the Government for the capital works.
Vana Samrakshana Samiti (VSS) is a people’s committee, formed on the concept of
community forest management, constituted by Divisional Forest Officer by order. The
Committee represents residents of villages and hamlets situated within 5 km of forest
boundary. The operational area under each VSS is about 500 ha. No contribution is paid by
the Committee.
Water Conservation and Utilization Committees (WCUCs) are formed to promote people’s
participation in water conservation works, at district, mandal and village level. They are
advisory bodies without any executive role. The village WCUC is headed by Gram Panchayat
with members from village level Self Help Groups (SHGs). Village Development Officer is
the Convener.
Borewell User Associations (BUAs) are people’s institutions formed by the APWELL project.
These are village level apex bodies consisting of all the borewell owners benefiting under
the project, essentially including both men and women farmers. BUAs have the function of
assisting the farmers in operation and maintenance and establishing linkages with line
departments. As part of PHM pilot initiative, Groundwater Management Committees have
been formed under the aegis of APWELL Project at Hydrological unit level in all the IPHM
clusters (7). These committees facilitate the farmer data collection and crop water budgeting
exercise, apart from taking up linkage building activities with the line departments.
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